Electronic device with scheduled occurrence indicators

Abstract

A display assembly for displaying information in an electronic device comprising a first rotateable ring having a first occurrence indicator thereon; a second rotateable ring having a second occurrence indicator thereon; means for rotating the first rotateable ring so as to selectively position the first occurrence indicator; and rotating the second rotateable ring so as to selectively position the second occurrence indicator; whereby the position of the first occurrence indicator corresponds to a scheduled occurrence of a first occurrence and the position of the second occurrence indicator corresponds to a scheduled occurrence of a second occurrence. In a second embodiment, the display assembly comprises a first rotateable ring having a first highlighted section; a second rotateable ring having a second highlighted section; means for rotating the first rotateable ring so as to selectively position the first highlighted section; and rotating the second rotateable ring so as to selectively position the second highlighted section; whereby an extended highlighted section is provided with a length determined at least in part by the positions of the highlighted sections of the respective first and second rotateable rings.

1. An electronic device having a display assembly for displaying information, the display assembly comprising:
 a first rotateable ring having a first occurrence indicator thereon; 
 a second rotateable ring having a second occurrence indicator thereon; 
 a dial having an elongated window, wherein the first and second rotateable rings lie beneath the dial and wherein the first and second occurrence indicators are visible through the elongated viewing window; 
 means for:
 rotating the first rotateable ring so as to selectively position the first occurrence indicator; and 
 rotating the second rotateable ring so as to selectively position the second occurrence indicator; 
 
 wherein the position of the first occurrence indicator corresponds to a scheduled occurrence of a first occurrence and the position of the second occurrence indicator corresponds to a scheduled occurrence of a second occurrence; and 
 both the first and second occurrence indicators are selectively positionable at a plurality of positions and wherein both of the first and second indicators are viewable through the elongated window when positioned at each of the plurality of positions. 
 
   
   
     2. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the viewing window extends 360° about the dial so that the first and second occurrence indicators can be visible therethrough whereever respectively selectively positioned. 
   
   
     3. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means comprises:
 a first assembly comprising:
 a first gearing assembly, comprising one or more wheels, being meshingly coupled to the first rotateable ring so that the rotation of the one or more wheels causes the rotation of the first rotateable ring; and 
 a first stepping motor comprising a rotor, wherein the rotor of the stepping motor is rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of the first gearing assembly, wherein the rotation of the rotor causes the rotation of the first rotateable ring; and 
 
 a second assembly comprising:
 a second gearing assembly, comprising one or more wheels, being meshingly coupled to the second rotateable ring so that the rotation of the one or more wheels causes the movement of the second rotateable ring; and 
 a second stepping motor comprising a rotor, wherein the rotor of the stepping motor is rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of the second gearing assembly, wherein the rotation of the rotor causes the movement of the second rotateable ring. 
 
 
   
   
     4. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second rotateable ring overlies at least a portion of the first rotateable ring. 
   
   
     5. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 1 , including receiving means for receiving, from an external source, information corresponding to the first occurrence and the second occurrence;
 wherein the receiving means is operatively coupled to the means for rotating the first and second rotateable rings; 
 whereby the means for rotating the first and second rings rotates the first and second rings so as to position the first and second occurrence indicators in accordance with the information received from the external source. 
 
   
   
     6. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second occurrences is high tide and the other of the first and second occurrences is low tide. 
   
   
     7. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second occurrences is sunrise and the other of the first and second occurrences is sunset. 
   
   
     8. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dial comprises demarcations of a 24-period;
 whereby the indicated time period between the first scheduled occurrence and the second scheduled occurrence is (i) greater than 12 hours and (ii) simultaneously visible through the viewing window in the dial without the need for any additional indicators. 
 
   
   
     9. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises demarcations of a 24-period;
 whereby the indicated time period between the first scheduled occurrence and the second scheduled occurrence is (i) greater than 12 hours and (ii) simultaneously visible through the viewing window in the dial without the need for any additional indicators. 
 
   
   
     10. A method of displaying information on an electronic device comprising a display assembly that itself comprises a first rotateable ring having a first occurrence indicator thereon, a second rotateable ring having a second occurrence indicator thereon, means for rotating the first rotateable ring so as to selectively position the first occurrence indicator and rotating the second rotateable ring so as to selectively position the second occurrence indicator, a dial having an elongated viewing window, wherein the first and second rotateable rings lie beneath the dial and wherein the first and second occurrence indicators are visible through the viewing window in the dial, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 rotating the first rotateable ring to position the first occurrence indicator about the dial and rotating the second rotateable ring to position the second occurrence indicator about the dial; 
 visibly indicating the occurrences of the first scheduled occurrence and the second scheduled occurrence by the respective selective positioning of the first and second scheduled occurrence indicators; 
 wherein the position of the first occurrence indicator corresponds to a scheduled occurrence of a first occurrence and the position of the second occurrence indicator corresponds to a scheduled occurrence of a second occurrence; and 
 wherein the first scheduled occurrence and the second scheduled occurrence are simultaneously visible though the viewing window in the dial; and 
 both the first and second occurrence indicators are selectively positionable at a plurality of positions and wherein both of the first and second indicators are viewable through the elongated window when positioned at each of the plurality of positions. 
 
   
   
     11. An electronic device having a display assembly for displaying information, the display assembly comprising:
 a first rotateable ring having a first highlighted section; 
 a second rotateable ring having a second highlighted section; 
 a dial having an elongated window, wherein the first and second rotateable rings lie beneath the dial and wherein the first and second highlighted sections are visible through the elongated viewing window; 
 means for:
 rotating the first rotateable ring so as to selectively position the first highlighted section at a plurality of positions; and 
 rotating the second rotateable ring so as to selectively position the second highlighted section at a plurality of positions; 
 
 whereby an extended and visibly continuous highlighted section is provided with a length determined at least in part by the positions of the highlighted sections of the respective first and second rotateable rings; and 
 wherein the extended and visibly continuous highlighted section is viewable through the elongated window when the first and second occurrence indicators are positioned at each of the plurality of positions. 
 
   
   
     12. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the position of the first highlighted section provides an indication of an ending of a period of time and the position of the second highlighted section provides an indication of a starting of the period of time. 
   
   
     13. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the dial comprises one or more viewing windows, wherein the first and second rotateable rings lie beneath the dial and wherein at least portions of each of the first and second highlighted sections are simultaneously visible through a respective elongated viewing window. 
   
   
     14. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the dial comprises a shaded area that is in alignment with the first and second highlighted sections,
 whereby the extended highlighted section is provided with a length determined at least in part by the positions of the highlighted sections of the respective first and second rotateable rings and the shaded area of the dial. 
 
   
   
     15. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein a beginning of the highlighted section indicates the scheduled occurrence of sunset and an end of the highlighted section indicates the scheduled occurrence of sunrise. 
   
   
     16. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the dial comprises demarcations of a 24-period;
 whereby the indicated time period between the sunset and sunrise is greater than 12 hours and simultaneously visible though the one or more viewing windows in the dial. 
 
   
   
     17. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the electronic device comprises demarcations of a 24-period;
 whereby the indicated time period between the sunset and sunrise is greater than 12 hours and simultaneously visible though the one or more viewing windows in the dial. 
 
   
   
     18. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 14 , including receiving means for receiving, from an external source, information related to a first occurrence and a second occurrence;
 wherein the receiving means is operatively coupled to the means for rotating the first and second rotateable rings; 
 whereby the means for rotating the first and second rings rotates the first and second rings so as to adjust the length of the highlighted section in accordance with the information received from the external source. 
 
   
   
     19. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the second rotateable ring overlies the first ring and the dial inhibits the viewing of the first and second highlighted sections that are not positioned in one or more of the viewing windows. 
   
   
     20. The electronic device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the means comprises:
 a first assembly comprising:
 a first gearing assembly, comprising one or more wheels, being meshingly coupled to the first rotateable ring so that the rotation of the one or more wheels causes the rotation of the first rotateable ring; and 
 a first stepping motor comprising a rotor, wherein the rotor of the stepping motor is rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of the first gearing assembly, wherein the rotation of the rotor causes the rotation of the first rotateable ring; and 
 
 a second assembly comprising:
 a second gearing assembly, comprising one or more wheels, being meshingly coupled to the second rotateable ring so that the rotation of the one or more wheels causes the movement of the second rotateable ring; and 
 a second stepping motor comprising a rotor, wherein the rotor of the stepping motor is rotateably coupled to the at least one or more wheels of the second gearing assembly, wherein the rotation of the rotor causes the movement of the second rotateable ring.